Unfortunately; there were some negative issues recently caused by third party mapping. To my knowledge, it was not the TrakMaps causing the issues but our engineers have blocked most third party map products from our marine devices. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. "

So I guess this is something to consider now when purchasing a Garmin product, they can just stop supporting third party maps when they feel like it. Beware if your buying a third party map.

Preparation downgrade Echomap 50s: first saved routes, tracks, waypoints first save since after downgrade a factory reset is performed and that all data will be erased.

Copy the desired V3.4 firmware as "gupdate.gcd" to "x: \ garmin" on an SD card .

NOTE! Any error in the following process may result in the unit generating the file GarminDevice.xml in "x: \ garmin" so be sure to remove it and then strart again.

Ensure the device is switched off and insert the SD into Slot 1 (left).

Suggest that for safety's sake remove any SD from Slot 2 .

Still with unit switched off, on Echomap 50 press the "UP arrow" key and hold it.

Now press the "on" switch and also hold it.

After some time appears on the display "HOLDING BOOT BLOCK" . Still hold "on" switch and "UP arrow" for now.

Again some time later appears "SOFTWARE LOADING" on the display. Still hold "on" switch and "UP arrow" until "LOADER READY" is displayed. The buttons you can now be let go. If released before "LOADER READY" you must begin the process again as the system has then generated an XML file on the SD card which must firstly be removed.

While doing the downgrade "SOFTWARE LOADING" again shows on the display.

Upon completion the unit performs a factory reset and booted with "new" old firmware. The basic settings (language, units, ...) must now be made ​​at initial start-up.

If you don't follow the guide precisely the plotter will generate a GarminDevice.xml file on the card and it'll remain at the higher fw. After the downgrade, upgrade again directly to latest firmware. As catymag said, you must extract twice. First extract 'ChartplottersUpdatewithSDcard_20140306.exe', then extract 'program_card.exe' and look inside folder 'Root' to find folder 'Garmin'. Copy the relevant file 'gupdate.gcd' into a Garmin folder you've created in the root of the card [x:\Garmin\gupdate.gcd].

Last edited by Neil; 19th February 2015 at 01:44.

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Ah there we go since my unit is the touch screen you just need to hold the power button while booting. Now here's what I noticed if I downgrade to 3.4 and put the map card in it will work no problems... now I update to 4.2 and the same card still works but if i take another card same format same same maps it will say map format not supported pretty strange... if I downgrade again and pop both in while at 3.4 and update to 4.2 both cards will work.

Thanks for the help guys. I just hope the next updates wont ruin this some more... Not a cool move from Garmin to remove support of maps that have always worked on their units.

I think it's a bug only, not intentional from Garmin to remove support to third party mapping and no problems with them on echomap.
English developer got the solution, but wasn't easy to discover it, that user has been lucky to find a knowledgeable support . Buggy is version 4.0 and bug remains after updating to 4.20, but as you could see, if you go directly form 3.40 (which works) to 4.20 then all is ok.
This affects all the units having in sw changelog: "Fixed potential combo corruption when updating software from 3.60, 3.70, or 3.80 to 4.00 and higher."
Probably the support you contacted stays in the dark about what's happening with these firmware This is "so Garmin" lol, probably you wont have further problems with next updates too.

PS. Have you made the hard reset after downgrading? This is important to clear NV completely after downgrading.
Thread marked as solved

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hi catymag the thing is that it works but not if i insert a different TrakMarine card (a card that wasn't inserted while at v3.4). I dont think I've done a hard reset since I'm not sure how to do it on the echomap 70dv. and when should I do it while on 3.4 or at 4.2?

alright tried it with the resets (downgrade to 3.4 and do a reset insert my maps chips then upgrade to 4.2 and do a reset and insert my map chips) and I get the same scenario. it works fine at 3.4 but once I update and insert a different TrakMarine card (a card that wasn't inserted while at v3.4) it doesn't accept it "map format not supported". but to cure this all i need to do is insert them all while at 3.4 then update and they will all work.

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